Sprinklers to be fitted to all Wandsworth’s sheltered housing and temporary accommodation blocks

Homeless families, elderly tenants and those with vulnerabilities are to be given priority when it comes to installing life-saving fire protection measures, councillors in Wandsworth agreed last night.

Members of the housing overview and scrutiny committee voted in favour of prioritising the installation of sprinklers in the borough’s 25 sheltered housing blocks and its 15 temporary accommodation buildings.

This process work will commence shortly and is poised to be followed by the installation of sprinklers in 100 of the borough’s tallest tower blocks.

The decision to install sprinklers in Wandsworth’s high rise buildings of ten storeys and above was taken in the immediate aftermath of the Grenfell tower tragedy where 72 people lost their lives.

The council’s policy on sprinklers has also been endorsed by MPs from all parties on The council’s policy on sprinklers has also been endorsed by MPs from all parties on The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) select committee, which studied fire safety in residential tower blocks.

In July it concluded that sprinklers should be should be retro-fitted to existing high-rise residential buildings., which studied fire safety in residential tower blocks. In July it concluded that sprinklers should be should be retro-fitted to existing high-rise residential buildings.

Since 2007 sprinklers have been mandatory in all new build blocks of ten storeys and above. Retrofitting them to council blocks of the same height will bring these blocks up to the latest recommended safety standards.

The value of sprinklers was highlighted earlier this summer at one of the council’s newest temporary accommodation blocks in Nightingale Square in Balham, where a chip pan fire was extinguished before the fire brigade arrived – with minimal fire or water damage to the property, leaving the young mother and her one-year-old child residing there completely unharmed.

Cabinet member for housing Cllr Kim Caddy said: “In the immediate aftermath of the terrible events at Grenfell we announced proposals to install sprinklers in all our tower blocks of ten storeys or above.

“This would bring these high rise properties up to the same safety standard as all newly-built residential blocks of a similar height where sprinklers have been mandatory since 2007.

“Last night we voted to go even further and ensure higher safety standards for some of our most vulnerable tenants. We will now begin work installing sprinklers in all our sheltered housing blocks and all the buildings we own that provide temporary accommodation to families that have been made homeless.

“When those works are completed we intend to begin installing sprinkler systems in our remaining 99 tallest tower blocks.

“Our carefully considered approach as a responsible landlord and freeholder is based on a number of factors, not least the very clear and unambiguous advice of the London Fire Brigade and its Commissioner, the Royal Institute of British Architects and most recently and significantly the cross-party select committee group of MPs who examined this issue in great detail.

“Some people think this issue should be left up to a ballot, with some blocks agreeing to have sprinklers fitted but others choosing to reject them.

“This would mean identical tower blocks having different levels of protection. Such a two-tier safety approach would represent a complete abdication of our responsibility as a landlord and freeholder and could, heaven forbid, risk further tragedy.

“We understand and appreciate that some leaseholders who live in our taller blocks but who’ve bought their homes are unhappy with our proposals partly on the grounds of cost.

“This is why we have proactively sought a ruling from the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal so that the legal position about whether or not they need to make a financial contribution is clarified. This is an important issue for them and one we have some sympathy for, which is why we have already said that if they are required to make any contribution at all, this would be spread over a number of years and would be on an interest free basis.”

The council has installed sprinklers in two show flats so that tenants and leaseholders can see for themselves how the system works and how unobtrusive the equipment is. This can be viewed here on this short video.

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Recent comments

Post Grenfell some people got in a room and pontificated about what's best for a separate group of people without thinking it wise to ask them. Result, a poor decision that serves to appease the consciouses of those in the room, makes them feel good about themselves for doing something. Being able to make a big statement about £mills being spent. Sprinklers are of negligible use in protecting our buildings that don't have cladding or fire safety compromised by the councils own major works program. I'm All in favor of sprinklers to protect individuals in their abode with consent. No legal requirement to retrofit them. The council is more focused on protecting its good name than engaging with the people they "care" about. SEE YOU IN COURT.

Paddy

27 September 2018

Grenfille Disaster was caused by fire within outer cladding and not internally within the Block my we moved into The Arndale 46 Years ago and have experienced a few isolated fires within the block none of witch has caused a fatality. In my opinion this is a knee jerk reaction which will again cause financial hardship to lease holders my mum is now 87 years old.

D Roper-Knight

27 September 2018

To save face from its halt to the installation of sprinklers in high rise flats, WBC intends to install them in its sheltered and homeless housing! ‘D’OH!’ as Homer might say. As I have tried to explain to two Housing & Regeneration Overview & Scrutiny committee meetings, the Council’s policy must be based on a RATIONAL analysis of the EVIDENCE of the safety or otherwise of the properties. No such analysis has been produced for the affected properties and so the decision is, on the basis of the available evidence, unsound. WBC has to show first, that these places are unsafe and secondly, that sprinklers are the least expensive option necessary to bring them up to a safe level. WBC’s focus should be on fire prevention rather than fire cure.

Joe Cairns

22 September 2018

Why are WBC censoring posts on this site?
I thought free speech was allowed in this country, unless of course, you disagree with the WBC Politburo.

John Gallagher

18 September 2018

you know what else is funny, i risk assessed the communal areas in my block for fire safety, 35 major issues inc fire doors with holes in them,, door closers not operational, push bars snapped off, litter build ups, storage of flammables/rubbish, in building storerooms, main fire exit doors not closing. smoking in areas only accessible by wbc employees, roof, tank rooms lift motor rooms etc. they cannot even be trusted to do the basics of h&S, THIS ARE ITEMS WE HAVE FUNDED AND THE COUNCIL HAVE NEGLECTED. fact is the current standard of basic fire safety compliance is being negleted by wbc, these are legal obligations, yet the they pushing for sprinklers when these basics are not even fullfilled.

gary

17 September 2018

you write this article like the sprinklers are welcome! you have hand picked people to endorse the sprinklers, fact is most councilers residents and fire brigade personel dont want the sprinklers, we feel its a cash grab by wbc, no mention of the legal challenge being undertaken to stop this stupid proposal! no mention of the 1000s of unsatified tennants and leaseholders who feel the council dont listen even on the basic work we pay for! funny!